Finding the NMC Competence Test Centre
Travelling to the Northumbria NMC Competence Test Centre
Northumbria’s NMC Test of Competence Centre is located at our Coach Lane Campus, approximately three miles from Newcastle city centre.
Newcastle upon Tyne is well placed to provide convenient regional, national and international access – located in the north east of England, the city is easily accessible given the fantastic travel links – close proximity to the A1 for drivers, an international airport with links to all corners of the UK, a train station on the East Coast mainline and even an international ferry terminal!!
This page provides advice on the different travel options open to you and details of the hotels that we recommend and have engaged with your comfort and safety in mind, as well as securing preferred rates for OSCE candidates.
Please ensure that you have secured an exam date prior to making any travel arrangements to avoid disappointment. We cannot guarantee a preferred date but will be able to give options.
A quick travel summary is available here
Getting to Newcastle upon Tyne
Road travel, by coach or car, is particularly easy as Newcastle stands on the premier north-south route in the UK.
- The University address for our Coach Lane Campus is Northumbria University, Coach Lane Campus, Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7XA. Please note that SATNAV devices using the above postcode will direct travellers to a next door residential estate.
- The NMC Competence Test Centre is based on the West side of our Coach Lane campus. A large, reasonably priced, pay and display car park is situated on the East side of the campus, a short (two minute) walk to the Centre. Clear signage will guide you from the car park to the Centre.
Frequent rail services operate from many parts of the UK.
You will arrive via train to Newcastle Central Train Station. The station has all major train line companies going through it, including TransPennine Express, Scotrail, Northern Rail, LNER and Cross Country.
A taxi rank can be found right outside Newcastle Central Station. You should ask the driver to take you to Northumbria University, Coach Lane West Campus. The fare will be in the region of £10.
Alternatively, you may wish to use the Stagecoach Number 1 bus service. The bus calls at the stop opposite the station, the journey will take around 30 minutes and the service terminates at Coach Lane Campus (that should be showing as the destination of the bus).
Approximate travelling times by rail to Newcastle upon Tyne are:
| Birmingham | 4 hours |
| Edinburgh | 2 hours |
| Glasgow | 3 hours |
| London | 3 hours |
| Manchester | 3 hours |
| Sheffield | 2 hours |
| Leeds | 1.5 hours |
Rail Enquiries
Tel: +44 (0)8457 484 950
www.nationalrail.co.uk
The closest airport to the Competence Test Centre is Newcastle International Airport, where flights from a range of providers offer regular affordable flights to Newcastle.
You can also access the Competence Test Centre using a taxi directly from the airport. The airport has a designated taxi rank that is located just outside of arrivals at the airport. It will take approximately 20 minutes by taxi at a cost of around £20.
Newcastle International Airport
Tel: +44 (0)871 882 1122
www.newcastleairport.com
National Express operates good services to Newcastle upon Tyne from all parts of the UK.
Approximate travelling times are:
| Birmingham | 5 hours |
| Edinburgh | 3 hours |
| Glasgow | 4 hours |
| London | 6 hours |
| Manchester | 4 hours |
| Sheffield | 3 hours |
There is a taxi rank close to the National Express coach station. Please ask the driver to take you Northumbria University Coach Lane West Campus.
National Express
Tel: +44 (0)871 781 8178
www.nationalexpress.com
Car ferry and passenger services operate to Tyneside from Holland.
The North Shields International Ferry Terminal at Royal Quays ( Tyne Commission Quay) is seven miles east of Newcastle. Bus services run from the terminal building to the city centre.
DFDS Seaways
www.dfdsseaways.co.uk
Coach Lane Campus has ample car parking on a pay and display basis on the East side of the campus. You are advised to download the campus map below in order to identify the location of the car park in relation to the Competence Test Centre (although comprehensive signage on-site will guide you).
Newcastle is a very compact city so getting around is easy! It has one of the best integrated transport systems in the country, centred upon the Metro system, and the extensive bus networks.
Excellent bus and Metro services run between the City Centre and our Coach Lane campus. Candidates wishing to travel by bus from Newcastle Central rain station should board the Number 1 Stagecoach service ‘Coach Lane Campus’. This service terminates at Coach Lane Campus
For further information on transport options in Newcastle upon Tyne please visit the nexus website
Upon arrival at Coach Lane, candidates should head to the main reception, denoted as location 10 on the Campus map
Accommodation
Candidates are responsible for arranging their own accommodation. For your convenience, we have engaged with a number of local hotels with your comfort and safety in mind, as well as securing preferred rates for OSCE candidates.
For those arriving in Newcastle upon Tyne by rail, we recommend:
Hampton by Hilton Hotel (directly opposite Newcastle Central Train Station) – Baron House Neville Street, Newcastle NE1 5EN using this LINK. Bookings made though this link include a special discount agreed with the hotel. All rates are inclusive of VAT, a full hot and cold breakfast and wifi. If you would prefer to email the hotel direct, please use the following address: reservations@hamptonnewcastle.com
Hotel Indigo (2 minutes from Newcastle Central Train Station) The team at the Hotel Indigo Newcastle look forward to welcoming your future guests to the hotel. Bookings made using the link receive a special discounted rate agreed with the hotel. Either use this link, telephone reservations (24hr) on 0191 300 9222 or email the team (reservations@hinnewcastle.com).
Other convenient hotels to fit all budget ranges near Newcastle Central Station include:
- Maldren Hotel, Newcastle
- Jurys Inn, Newcastle
- Motel One, Newcastle
For those arriving in Newcastle upon Tyne by air, we recommend:
Double Tree by Hilton Hotel (directly opposite Newcastle Airport main terminal) – using this LINK to book discounted room rates.
For those arriving in Newcastle upon Tyne by car, we recommend:
Holiday Inn, Jesmond (approx 1.5 miles from Coach Lane Campus) – using this LINK
Bookings made though this link include a special discount agreed with the hotel. minutes
Access to Coach Lane Campus
Those candidates arriving in to Newcastle Central Train Station will need to take a short taxi ride to Northumbria University’s Coach Lane Campus.
Alternatively, the Stagecoach Number 1 bus service ‘Coach Lane Campus’ picks up outside the station with a journey time of around 30 minutes. Coach Lane Campus is the final stop on this service.
Candidates arriving in to Newcastle Airport are advised to travel to the Competence Test Centre at Coach Lane Campus by taxi.
Some useful taxi numbers in Newcastle upon Tyne are:
- Noda cars – 0191 222 1888
- Blue Line taxis – 0191 262 6666
- LA taxis – 0191 287 7777